Karunagappalli

The main tourist attraction is the house boat facility in Alumkadavu which is close (only 3 km) to Karunagappally town.[4] Sree Narayana Trophy boat race, an annual boat race is organised in the Kannety (Pallickal) River, Karunagappally, during the season of Onam Festival. Nowadays houseboat, safari boat and speed-boat services are operated from Kannetty boat club which 1 km apart from Karunagappally ksrtc bus stand to various places like Amrithapuri, Azheekkal beach, harbour, Ashtamudi lake through Vattakkayal, Kattilmekkathil temple and Chavara canal. And also to Champakkadavu where we can enjoy the beauty of villages, rare species of birds and diversity. The famous Chinese fishing nets can be found on the banks of the lagoon. The Amritapuri ashram is also situated in Parayakadavu, which is 8 km from Karunagappally. Other tourist attractions are Alumkadavu Backwater, Oachira temple, Pandarathuruth Church, Sheik Masjid Mosque, Padanayarkulangara Mahadeva Temple, Thazhava, Kovilthottam Light House, Sasthamkotta Lake, etc. Alumkadavu is the place where first houseboat made in India.

Recently, Azheekal Beach is gaining popularity as a local tourist attraction.

Karunagappally was an ancient Buddhist site. There was a Buddha bhikshu named Karinagan who lived in Karunagappally. He later became known as Pallikkal Puthran (as Karunagappally is situated on the banks of Pallikkal river) hence the name Karunagappally. Many traces of ancient Buddhist culture were excavated from various places in and around Karunagappally. A statue of Karinagan was placed in front of Mahadevar temple at the heart of the city. Now it has been moved to Krishnapuram Palace, Kayamkulam.

Under 2011 India census, the population of Karunagappalli Municipality is 45,336.[5] 75% of the population is Hindu; Muslims, the second-largest community having 19%. Christians are scattered and spread over Panchayths and Municipality limits, and account for 6% of the population. In the coastal panchaythat Azheekal, almost 100% of the population is Hindu. The high literacy of Kerala is reflected in Karunagappalli as well with 94.23% of the population classified as literate as against the national average of 74.04%.[6] Karunagappalli taluk's population grew by 2% and was 418724 in 2017.

Karungappalli used to be an agrarian economy until the late 19th century with coconut, banana, tapioca and paddy as the main crops grown. With rapid urbanization and the consequent pressure on land, the reliance on agriculture has dwindled. Several cottage and small industries have now come up in the area including brick making, engineering and electronics. Proximity to Kollam (27 km) and the excellent road and rail infrastructure have helped in this transition.

Fishing forms the major source of livelihood for the coast dwellers. The area also receives substantial foreign remittances from the large number of people from here working in the Gulf countries. Now Kerala's many prominent business centres had their branches here.

Karunagappalli is known for high background radiation from thorium-containing monazite sand. In some coastal panchayats, median outdoor radiation levels are more than 4 mGy/yr and, in certain locations on the coast, it is as high as 70 mGy/yr.[7]

Karunagapalli assembly constituency is part of Alappuzha Lok Sabha constituency and the major political parties in Karunagappally municipality and nearby panchayaths were CPI[M], CPI, Congress, BJP.[8]

Including Neendakara, Thevalakkara, Chavara and Panmana Panchayaths, Chavara assembly constituency is part of Quilon Lok Sabha constituency. CPI(M), RSP, CPI, BSP, BJP, etc. are major political parties there.

The major industries in the public sector are Indian Rare Earths Limited (IRE) and Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited (KMML) in Shankaramangalam.KERAFED in Puthiyakavu, house-boat manufacturing in Alumkadavu, the state owned Kerala Feeds Ltd in Kallelibhagom are also major industries. The KMML is the first of its kind.

Cashew nut industry plays a vital role. Western India cashews in Puthiyakavu and Latha cashews processing, imports and exports in Charamurimuk are the major cashew processing units in town limits. Coconut, paddy, tapioca, banana, etc. are the other main agricultural crops. Prominent small scale and cottage industries are based on bricks, well rings making, engineering, electronics items and handicrafts.

There are many religious centers in and around Karunagappally. The Municipality is known for its religious harmony. Major religious centers include Kattilmekkathil Devi Temple,Changankulangara Sree Mahadevar Temple, Pulithitta Chathushashti Yogini Sametha Mahakali Dharmadaiva Temples (Pulithitta Sree Bhadrabhagavathy Dharmadaiva Temple), Karunagappally Sheikh Masjid, Padanayarkulangara Mahadeva temple, Ochira Parabrahma Temple, Sree Mookumpuzha Devi Temple, Maruthurkulangara Mahadeva Temple, Mararithottam Mahadeva Temple, Puthiyakavu Devi Temple, Karunagappally Jama'at Mosque, Vallikkavu Temple, and Puliyankulangara temple,

• Remaining Date for Karunagappalli Municipality Election 2020

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• Karunagappally Taluk